| Antioxidants are powerful
substances that can neutralize free radicals before
they damage your body's cells. Free radicals are highly
reactive chemical substances that travel around in the
body and cause damage to your cells. Many experts, in
fact, believe free radical damage is one of the most
prominent causes of devastating diseases that are responsible
for killing many people in the Western world, such as
cardiovascular disease, which can manifest as heart
attacks, and cancer. Indeed, the aging process itself
has been postulated by some experts as the result of
free radical damage!
Foods high in antioxidants:
Tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and peppers
are all excellent choices. The key is to focus on eating
those fruits and vegetables that have rich hues of color.
These are high in what are known as phytonutrients.
Phytonutrients are nutrients concentrated in the skins
of many vegetables and fruits, and are responsible for
not just their color, but scent, and flavor as well.
Phytonutrients are the best antioxidant
foods that exist in nature. Clinical trials are now
revealing that phytonutrients can enhance the strength
of the immune system, and may play a role in preventing
certain cancers.
Organic Fruits and Vegetables are Better
One of the main problems with mass commercialized
fruits and veggies nowadays is that they are produced
using chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
Organically grown fruits and veggies are foods high
in antioxidants -- antioxidant foods that have a higher
concentration than their mass commercialized counterparts.
Antioxidant Food Sources
Vitamin C
Citrus fruits and their juices, berries, dark
green vegetables (spinach, asparagus, green peppers,
brussel sprouts, broccoli, watercress, other greens),
red and yellow peppers, tomatoes and tomato juice, pineapple,
cantaloupe, mangos, papaya and guava.
Vitamin E
Vegetable oils such as olive, soybean, corn,
cottonseed and safflower, nuts and nut butters, seeds,
whole grains, wheat, wheat germ, brown rice, oatmeal,
soybeans, sweet potatoes, legumes (beans, lentils, split
peas) and dark leafy green vegetables.
Selenium
Brazil nuts, brewer's yeast, oatmeal, brown
rice, chicken, eggs, dairy products, garlic, molasses,
onions, salmon, seafood, tuna, wheat germ, whole grains,
most vegetables.
Beta Carotene
Variety of dark orange, red, yellow and green
vegetables and fruits such as broccoli, kale, spinach,
sweet potatoes, carrots, red and yellow peppers, apricots,
cantaloupe and mangos. |
